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tntnl tattt aient @attira Letters Patent No. 97,563, dated December 7, 1869.

TRACK-CLEARER, FOR MOWINGMACHINES- The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same llo all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, PRATT A. SPICER, of the vcity of Marshall, in the county of Calhoun, and lState of Michigan, have invented a new and `useful Improvement in Dividers or 'lrack-Glearers to Mowing-V Similar letters of reference indicate like parts inv both figures. v

My invention relates to a device to form a part of a grass-divider, for the purpose of enabling such 'divider to clear itself gradually from accumulations of tangled grass; and the-better to enable others skilled iu this'branch of agricultural mechanism to construct Y my invention, I will proceedto describe it.

The'form and general arrangement of the dividers for grass, in commonuse, are shown at A in fig. l, and B and O in fig. 2.

The former is simply a curved edged board, connected at the forward end to the shoe S, of the cutter-bar D, oi' a mowing-machine, and the latter, known as swath-sticks, are round wooden bars, iitted to sockets t', pivoted adjustably together, and to a side seat in said cutter-bar shoe.

These swath-sticks stand so as to form a lattish inclined plane, ascending from the end vconnected with the shoe, and they are bent laterally toward the swathside, in such manner that when drawn along behind the mower, they will divide and separate the cut from the standing grass, and leave a clear line of demarcation between. y

XVhen the grass lo be mowu is in good condition, and stands up well, the arrangements aforesaid operate as well as can be desired, but in dividing grass cut in a tangledand matted state, such dividers cannot free themselves, for the grass in such state clings to them in accumulating mass, and must be removed by hand, or if otherwise disengaged, will be left in large clumps on the swath.

The object of my invention is to enable grass-dilvvide-rs to distribute this matted grass evenly on the swath, when theybecome loaded -to a certainlirnited extent, without impairing their ability to divide grass cut in' good condition, in the very best manner.

To accomplish this` purpose, I so form the upper line or member of the divider, that from a proper point on the front ascending line, it will be deflected downward at any suitable angle of inclination to the ground, or nearly so, such deiiected portion to stand at the proper angle of divergence from the dividing line,

`and it is immaterial, as far as practical working is concerned, whether this deflecting portion is composed f right lines or of curves, as seen in the drawings, but should it be continued quite to the ground, the extreme end should be turned upward, so as to slide, in the act of backing.

The manner in which I generally apply this defiecting line is shown at E.

It is represented in fig. 1 as a round wooden rod, bent downward, substantially as seen, toward the ground, and set, and secured to the upper side or edge of the board-divider A, at a proper horizontal angle of divergence.

lbe bent rod E'may, if desired, be secured to the divider, in any of the well-known ways, so as to be capable of adjustment with it, and may be made ot any suitable material.

Another mode is seen in g. 2, where I bend the upper swath-stick, (see broken liues,) to form the deiiecting rod E, or if deemed best, the upper swathstick may be used intact, and the deiiecting rod made separate, and connected and disconnected at pleasure, in any convenient way, if it is not considered bes-t to make it a permanent member.

The operation of the deflecting rod E is as follows:

VVlen matted or tangled grass has accumulated on the divider, portions of such grass keep moving down the incline oi' the deecting rod E, until the drooping' ends of the grass reach the surface of the swath.

rlhe contact ofthe ends ofthe overhanging grasses produces a frictional adhesion to the stubble or ground surface, superior to the adhesion on the deiected rod,

and as the rod is moving with the mower, it is drawn away from the grasses clinging around, and iu this manner the accumulations on the divider are conducted and spread evenly on the swath.

I do not claim straight swath-sticks, or those curved only laterally, whether adjustable orlnot, as these are old, but having thus described my invention.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Leti' ters Patent, is- I The upper swath-stick of a grass-divider, formed with a portion ascending from the base or socket i, and then deiected downward at any suitable angle 0f inclination to, or nearly to the ground, suoli delected portion standing at the proper angle or curve of lateral divergence from the dividing line, whereby the fallen grass is iirst raised, and then cleared from the divider, and spread evenly on the swath, substantially as herein described and shown.

PRATT A. SPIGER.

Witnesses PETER Loonwoon, D. K. SMILEY. 

